Welcome to the new 4-H program year (2024-25)!
With this new year comes a new 4-H enrollment system, Zsuite.
The enrollment process for Club Members (youth) and Volunteers (adult club leaders) is similar. We’re excited with the options Zsuite will offer us in the office as well as to club leaders (more on this later).
To aid you in the process please use the following directions:
Youth Members: https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Youth-Member-Enrollment_Zsuite_8-2024_ver1.pdf
Adult Volunteers: https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Volunteer-Member-Enrollment_Zsuite_9-2024.pdf
If you need assistance, please contact the 4-H Office.
Holiday Wreath Sale
All Order should be turned into your leaders no later than Tuesday November 12.
The holidays are fast approaching and the Sussex County 4-H Foundation is again selling
wreaths through local 4-H clubs. There are two sizes and styles of wreaths being offered,
12 or 36 inch,which come plain or decorated.
(Decorated wreaths feature a festive red ribbon and pine cones.)
Funds raised by the Sussex County 4-H Foundation support activities by 4-H members such
as academic scholarships, financial assistance for members to attend national 4-H events
and sponsorship of 4-H programming in Sussex County.
Wreaths are priced at:
12-in Plain $18.00
12-in Decorated $20.00
36-in Plain $70.00
36-in Decorated $75.00
The deadline to order is Wednesday, November 13
Wreaths will be available for pick by 4-H club representatives
Saturday November 23
Families may download this Youth Sales Packet that includes a sales flyer and wreath order form. On the flyer, members may write in their club’s name and contact information and distribute it. Wreath sales can be included on the order form.
Contact the 4-H office for more information or questions.
4-H NJSF/SCF&HS Community Service Sign up
The NJSF/SCF&HS is setting up Community Service days to enable 4-H members who would receive 4-day passes to have the opportunity to earn 8-day passes (or any part thereof) by participating in volunteer activities that help out at the Fairgrounds in the Fall and Spring. Two hours of volunteering will earn one additional day pass.
The Fair believes engaging 4-H youth in volunteer activities at the fairgrounds will give members a perspective on how the Fair operates and create a better connection with the Fair Association. The hope is that some of these 4-H members will eventually become adult volunteers or directors.
Listed are current Community Service volunteer opportunities. You may choose one or all. Additional opportunities will be added/deleted as they become available.
Wednesday, November 6th – Leaf clean up behind The Conservatory 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Monday December 9 -Help sweep up Conservatory and greenhouse 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
Wednesday June 4th, 2025 – BOA Farmers Market Clean-up 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm with Lori Space Day.
To sign up for please use the following online form:
https://forms.gle/3Qa9LMoKMxgVw57L8
New 4-H Fair Pass Policy
The New Jersey State Fair is implementing a new 4-H fair pass policy that will primarily affect members who are only exhibiting projects in the Shotwell 4-H Building during the fair.
Those 4-H members with live animal exhibits that will be on the grounds for at least 4 days will receive a full 8 1/2-day Fair pass, as usual. This includes alpacas, cattle, goats, horses, poultry, sheep, and swine. The Fair will offer 4-H members entering static exhibits 4-day fair passes. These would include 4-H members who are only entering projects in the Shotwell Building or are not exhibiting animals at the fair for four or more days. Currently exceptions are being made for a few non-livestock 4-H clubs that provide over four or more days of member lead activities or service that engage the public.
4-H members who would receive 4-day passes will have the opportunity to earn 8-day passes (or any part thereof) if they choose to participate in volunteer community service activities that help out at the Fairgrounds in the Fall and Spring. The Fair believes engaging 4-H youth in volunteer activities at the fairgrounds will give members a perspective on how the Fair operates and create a better connection with the Fair Association. The hope is our 4-H members will eventually become adult volunteers or directors.
Those 4-H members receiving 4-day passes will be eligible for additional days based on hours of volunteer service prior to the Fair. Two hours of volunteering will earn one additional day pass.
The 4-H Office will be notified of volunteer opportunities in advance and will provide the Fair office with the approximate number of 4-H’ers planning to participate. 4-H is responsible for providing supervision as required by 4-H policy and for recording attendance. A representative of the Fair will also sign off on attendance at each volunteer day.
Those who qualify for additional day passes based on volunteering prior to the fair will be listed as eligible when passes are issued in July. This is assuming these members fulfill other 4-H fair pass requirements (Record Book, Member in Good Standing with their club, etc.), they will receive additional day passes or a full 8 1/2-day pass.
4-H leaders and 4-H parents will all still receive full passes as it is expected that they will volunteer to help and supervise in the Shotwell Building or other areas during the Fair. As in the past, there will be a fee for parent passes.
This is a new policy, and we understand you may have questions, please let us know.
Newton Annual Holiday Parade
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Registration due by Friday, November 15.
Clubs are invited and encouraged to participate in the Annual Holiday event. Please see the Chambers application for more information.
GNCC 2024 Holiday Parade Application
2025 Ignite 4-H Teen Summit
The application can be found here: https://go.rutgers.edu/mcq38tpi.
The application form is due by November 15th and youth selected to be part of the New Jersey delegation attending the Ignite by 4-H Teen Summit will be notified in December.
2024 NJ 4-H Cupcake Expo Registration
Open to the First 12 participants.
New Jersey 4-H members in grades 9-11 invited to participate the multi-level leadership program – NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program.
The next cohort for the NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program will begin in January 2025 with Module 1, followed with Module 2 in February and Module 3 in March. The Leadership for Life Program is offered in three sequential modules, which focus on leadership skills such as planning, decision making, critical thinking, goal setting, problem solving and conducting a service-learning project.
Registration details can be found here: https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/leadership/leadership-for-life/
Questions about the Leadership for Life Program can be directed to Camden County 4-H Agent Sharon Kinsey (sbkinsey@njaes.rutgers.edu)
2025 New Jersey 4-H Goat Extravaganza – January 4, 2025
See the state 4-H goat website, http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/goats/extravaganza/, for all of the information you need to register for the NJ 4-H Goat Extravaganza (poster/presentation contest, skill-a-thon, quiz bowl, art show, workshop for parents and volunteers, and social) on Saturday, January 4 at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County in the Mercer County Office Park, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing (our third year at this location).
Simple and quick online registration is due by Wednesday, December 4.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, each youth participant will receive a special 20th anniversary t-shirt (free); there will be a fun scavenger hunt with prizes; and several alumni will join for the day! Also new this year, we’ll collect non-perishable food, socks, mittens/gloves, and warm hats.
4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival
New Jersey 4-H, in cooperation with the New Jersey Junior Breeder Symposium, is sponsoring the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival to include ALL 4-H animal project areas.
Youth may work individually or as a team to create short educational videos (3:30 minutes or less) about alpacas, cats, cattle (beef/dairy), dogs, goats, herpetology, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, small animals, and/or swine to enter in the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest. Youth must upload their video and media release(s) by the end of March 3 (see website for details). The videos will then be shared at the film festival in the Round House of the Rutgers Cook Campus Farm during an afternoon session of the Junior Animal Science Symposium on Saturday, March 29.
Youth of the top scoring videos will receive awards, including gift cards. Videos will be scored on educational value, creativity, clarity, pacing, and technical quality (sound, lighting, etc.) – 20 points each, total of 100. A tip sheet and a description of the judging criteria are both available on the website, along with the top scoring videos from prior years. Youth are encouraged to have fun and be creative in designing their video entries!
Details are available on our website at http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/animals/film-festival.
Information and Programs for Our 4-H Leaders
Fall Reminders for Our Leaders
- REenroll as a leader for this year using ZSuites. Use the following link for directions to assist you: https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Volunteer-Member-Enrollment_Zsuite_9-2024.pdf
- End of Year Paperwork (4-H Club Treasury Annual Review Form, End of Project Year Recognition Certificates and Pins, Cloverbud Club Summary Form, Project Medal Recommendation Form)
The Treasury annual review is due by Nov 1.
End-of-Year Recognition and Project Medal Recommendation forms are due by Nov. 15. - Annual 4-H Rutgers Protection of Minors Training for the majority of our leaders. For some Tri-annual Background Checks may also be due. Please be on the lookout for emails for the following sources and complete the requests in an expedient manner.
Protection of Minors Training (POM): pom@ipo.rutgers.edu or go to https://pom.ipo.rutgers.edu/ to complete it on your own.
Tri-Annual Background: HireRight Customer Support noreply@hireright.com - Presentations/Speakers available for clubs who would like review ‘How to’ properly complete Record Books and ‘How to’ give a 4-H Public Presentations at a club meeting. If interested please contact Tanya or Dave.
Leaders – It’s that time again!
The Annual Rutgers Protection of Minors Training is Due
Leaders, this is a reminder that you must complete your Rutgers Protection of Minors Training annually. This is a requirement before the office can approve you in the enrollment system for the new program year.
Thank you to those that have already completed this requirement for this year.
You may have received an email from the Rutgers Protection of Minors with details or you can us the following link at any time: https://pom.ipo.rutgers.edu/.
The following are steps to complete this:
1. Click the link. You are taken to the Rutgers Protection of Minors training home page.
2. At the bottom, use the NON-NetID User option to request a PIN login.
2. Once you receive the PIN via email, use the link above again to gain access to the site and enter the training via the PIN Login.
You will need to use the email that the POM system has on file, If you are unsure please contact the 4-H Office.
3. Complete the training. There are 4 modules and quizzes you must complete. The last page you will see is:
The process should take less the 30 minutes. Once you get here, you are all done. We will be sent a notice when you complete the training.
If you have any issues please contact the 4-H Office for assistance.
CLUB LEADERS WREATH SALE REMINDERS
- Orders must be returned by Wednesday, November 13th. They can be emailed to Dave or Tanya.
- All orders will be FINAL. NO additional wreaths may be added once your order is placed.
- Wreath pick-up will be Saturday, November 23th at the Sussex County Fairgrounds –Board Of Ag. Farmers Market Building from 9:30 am to 11 am. Please sign up for a time slot https://signup.com/go/gAUeztP.
- Assign one individual to pick up the club’s order. Have your full payment ready to be turned in by cash/check. One check for the full amount, made out to the Sussex County 4-H Foundation for each club is preferred.
- Clubs will receive their bonus check from the Foundation at the time of wreath pick up. Your club will receive $1.00 for each 12-inch wreath sold and $5.00 for each 3-foot wreath sold.
- Supplies (cones, wires, and ribbons) will be provided for all decorated wreaths ordered. These will have to be divided among those decorating wreaths for their customers.
For those new to the Wreath Sale, decorated means you receive supplies for decorating the wreaths your customers ordered.
Wreath Sales materials are available for download at, sussex4h.org/forms
The first episode of 4-H Volunteer Ventures is available on Spotify and other platforms. The 4-H Volunteer Ventures Facebook page is also available.
The 4-H Volunteer Ventures Podcast examines the fun, but sometimes confusing role of the 4-H volunteer. Each episode will explore a specific aspect or challenge volunteers face ad offer best practices to improve the experience. Join hosts, Kelly and Laura, as they discuss current trends, share resources, and offer tips and tricks learned from their own volunteer experiences.
Spotify link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/4hvolunteerventures
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558574791500
We want to hear from YOU! If you have any suggestions for volunteer-based topics you would like us to address, or something you would like to learn more about as a 4-H volunteer, let us know. We appreciate your input.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and add us to your favorites so you do not miss a post.
@SussexNJ4H
